Bill 31 to add 2 new ridings to Alberta
A new bill from the ruling United Conservative Party (UCP) will add two new seats to Alberta and change how electoral boundaries are considered.
Bill 31, the Justice Statutes Amendment Act, 2024, will make amendments to the Electoral Boundaries Commission Act, among other pieces of legislation.
Electoral Boundaries Commission Act
The act outlines how the province's constituencies are created to ensure each Albertan's vote "has relatively the same effect."
If passed, Bill 31 will direct the Electoral Boundaries Commission to create two new ridings in Alberta – for a total of 89 – and change what they may consider in doing so.
Constituencies are legislated to fall generally within more than or less than 25 per cent of the average population of all divisions – or around 56,192 constituents based on July's population data.
The province said nine Alberta ridings currently contain more than 25 per cent than the average.
Bill 31 would also amend the considerations the commission may use in doing that. Those include:
- Population density or sparsity;
- Communities of shared interest, such as municipalities, First Nations or Métis Settlements.
- Geographical features, and communication or transportation between regions;
- The desirability of understandable and clear boundaries;
- The rate of population growth; and
- Any other factors the commission considered appropriate.
Considerations for existing boundaries within Edmonton and Calgary (where possible), as well as other existing municipal boundaries (where possible), would be removed.
Justice Minister Mickey Amery said that means new constituencies could combine smaller municipalities – like St. Albert – with parts of Edmonton.
"If the commission deems it appropriate to connect communities of interest despite the fact that they don't share the same municipal boundary, for example, then that would be OK, because those communities of interest are interconnected in other ways," Amery explained.
"There are certainly multiple areas all across this province that are very closely situated and connected to their major municipal urban centers," he said.
Considerations are not mandatory, and Amery said they are designed to give the commission more "flexibility."
The province said amendments to the act are needed to "ensure effective representation for all Albertans in the legislature" amid significant population growth – reported by the province at 4.4 per cent between July 2023 and 2024.
Amery said the bill is in line with case law and contains similar language and framework as used by British Columbia, which recently increased its number of seats.
Alberta may also be getting a new Electoral Boundaries Commission.
The last one was appointed in 2016, and Amery said a new one could be appointed by the province as early as this fall or as late as October 2026.
"We've not made any decisions whatsoever on what that might consist of or who might be," Amery said.
"But given the work that has to be done … to take in canvassing the entire province, receiving the recommendations and submissions and then providing a report for debate in the legislature. I think it's safe to say that it is likely that we will move sooner rather than later on this."
Population growth was also cited by former Alberta Premier Ed Stelmach in 2010 when the Electoral Boundaries Commission Act was last amended to create four new constituencies.
Other changes
Bill 31 also includes amendments to the following legislation:
- Critical Infrastructure Defence Act
- Alberta Evidence Act
- Public’s Right to Know Act
The Critical Infrastructure Defence Act is responsible for penalties related to trespassing, interference or damage to critical infrastructure.
Amendments will bring in the definitions of that infrastructure – including certain health-care facilities – into the act, allowing the existing Critical Infrastructure Defence Regulation to be repealed.
Changes to the Alberta Evidence Act include allowing people to submit written documents online without visiting courthouse or paying to affirm an oath in person.
Amendments would also eliminate the requirement for a person to object and justify their objection to a religious oath, making it easier to choose a secular oath.
The Public’s Right to Know Act would be amended to give the justice minister the power to require government, municipal and police bodies to provide up-to-date data.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
DEVELOPING New clues emerge in hunt for gunman who killed health insurance CEO
As the hunt for a masked gunman who stalked and killed the head of the largest U.S. health insurer moved into its third day Friday, surveillance footage provided more clues about the suspect's travels and the places he visited before the shooting.
Purolator, UPS pause shipments from couriers amid Canada Post strike
Purolator and UPS have paused shipments from some courier companies as they try to work through a deluge of deliveries brought on by the Canada Post strike.
NDP's Singh forces debate on $250 cheques for more Canadians; Conservatives cut it short
With the fate of the federal government's promised $250 cheques for 18.7 million workers hanging in the balance, the NDP forced a debate Friday on a motion pushing for the prime minister to expand eligibility. The conversation was cut short, though, by Conservative MPs' interventions.
Sask. father who kept daughter from mom to prevent COVID-19 vaccine free from additional prison time
Michael Gordon Jackson, the Saskatchewan father who withheld his then seven-year-old daughter from her mom for nearly 100 days to prevent the girl from getting a COVID-19 vaccine, was handed a 12-month prison sentence and 200 days probation on Friday, but credited with time served.
Ticketmaster hidden fees settlement credits expected in 2025 following class-action lawsuit by Regina lawyer
A longstanding lawsuit against Ticketmaster is nearing its end, with a judge expected to approve the more than $6 million dollar settlement before the end of the year.
What is still being delivered? What to know about the Canada Post strike
With Canada Post workers on strike, many individuals and businesses are facing the challenge of sending and receiving mail. Here are the answers to some of Canadians’ most-asked questions.
How the combination of diapers and splash pads led to 10K illnesses
New research is raising concerns about the safety of splash pads, which can be ground zero for germs and greatly increase the risk of spreading disease.
Canada's list of banned guns is expanding. Here's what you need to know
Canada is expanding its federal ban on firearms, adding 324 makes and models of guns to the prohibited weapons list, effective immediately.
Canadian unemployment rate jumps near 8-year high
Canada had 1.5 million unemployed people in November, propelling its jobless rate to a near-eight-year high outside of the pandemic era and boosting chances of a large interest rate cut on Dec. 11.